AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis is eager for Florida to be at the forefront of autonomous vehicles.
On Thursday, the governor signed a bill at SunTrax in Auburndale that expands the testing and use of autonomous vehicles.
- DeSantis is eager to further test autonomous vehicles
- Officials believes it can approve transportation in Florida
- Autonomous vehicles aims to provide saftey for residents
The move will bring jobs to the state and some Florida representatives spoke about how this brings safety and mobility to folks who need to get around.
The bill clarifies that, when engaged, the autonomous technology installed on a vehicle is deemed to be the operator of the vehicle, regardless of whether or not a human is physically present in the vehicle.
The legislation also authorizes the Florida Turnpike Enterprise to fund, construct, and operate test facilities for the advancement of autonomous and connected transportation technology.
Some of the more notable aspects of the bill include that technology is the operator of the vehicle, even if a human is present.
It is exempt from the unattended motor vehicle law.
That prohibits a vehicle from being unattended by a human without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition and removing the key.
The vehicle must be certified under federal law.
Officials and leaders believe the autonomous vehicles can save lives once fully approved for the road.
The bill explains, “In the event of an accident, the vehicle immediately notifies law enforcement with important information regarding location and type of crash.”
“I think it’s exciting, I think it’s good that we’re here and I applaud the legislature for embracing this and making sure that Florida welcomes innovation when it comes to transportation,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis announced that legislatures and Florida leaders will have the opportunity to be test passengers for the autonomous vehicles.